Railway traffic controlling system



' Oct. 2, 1934. .1. J, PALERMO RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed May 19. 1931 ATTORNEY BY uw Patented ct. 2, 1934 UNITED srArEs PATENT oFFlcE 1,975,136 l RAILWAY TRAFFIC ooifiTRoLLlNG SYSTEM John J.y Palerme, Rochester, NQY., Aassigner to general Railway 'Signal Company, Rochester,

Application May 19, 1931, Serial No.- 538,413 16 creams. mitzumac-r This invention relates' to railway trafc control obvious from the accompanying drawing, and in systems, and more particularly pertains to control part pointed out as the description of the invenof railroad track switches. tion progresses.

I It is sometimes desirable, where trains pass over In describing the invention in detail, reference 5 track switches at very frequent intervals to have will be made to the accompanying drawing which such track switches controlled by what is conillustrates in a diagrammatic manner one form veniently termed free levers, so that the route for which the present invention may assume as spethe next succeeding train may be preconditioned cically embodied in the control and indication while a train is passing over the switch. In order of a'single railroad track switch.

to provide this feature, a power-operated track With reference to the drawing, a track switch 65 switch is usually prevented from operation dur- TS is illustrated as operated by asuitable switch ing the passage of a train by employing a detector machine SM. This switch .machine may be of track section which interrupts the control of that any desired type,such for example, as the switch switch. However, with such detector locking, it machine disclosed in the patent to W. K. Howe,

is desirable that any operation of the switch, Patent No. 1,466,903, dated September 4, 1923, or 70 which may have been initiated prior tothe enany other switch operating and locking mechatrance of a train into the associated detector nism suitably provided with means for operating track section, may be completed although subseand locking the track switch TS together with a quent control thereof by the operator is premotor having an armature A and a field windvented. ing F. 75

The features of operation, above outlined, are The switch machine motor is preferably govprovided` by the present invention in the provierned through a group of pole changer contacts sion of a railroad track switch control means which are operated from one extreme position to c wherein the switch must complete each operation the opposite extreme position at the end of each which is initiated before it can be subsequently operation of the switch machine. The pole 80 controlled by the operator irrespective of the pochanger contacts of the switch machine SMv are sition of the control lever in the tower. The deillustrated' as including movable contact memtector locking, provided by a detector track secbers 5 and 6 which make contact between certain tion, is made effective to interrupt the control o1'.v respective pairs of iixed contacts when in normal the track switch by the operator when a trainjis extreme positions and make contact between ceron the associated track section, thereby preventtain' other respective pairs of xed contacts when ing the initiation of a new operation; but if the in reverse eXtreme positions. detector track section becomes occupied during a Included within the switch machine SM, or asparticular operation of the track switch, it is sociated therewith, are a group of point detector caused to complete such initiated operation. In contacts illustrated as including a movable con- 9 other words, the present invention provides for tact member '7 which' is operated to normal or the control of a power-operated track switch in reverse extreme positions when the track switch such a manner that once an operationis initiated, TS is in corresponding positions and locked, and it cannot 'be interrupted either by the operator which is Voperated to an intermediate position 40 in the tower or by the entrance ofa train onto whenever the track switch is unlocked. This 9h the detector track section. movable contact member '7 makes Contact between The present invention proposes to provide a a certain pair of iixed contacts when in a normal control system of the polarized line type wherein extreme position, and makes contact between a only one control wire is employed for each track certain other pair of fixed contacts when in a switch together with suitable transmission lines reverse position, but does not make any contacts 10 for supplying the power to that track switch and when in an intermediate position and the track the other track switches located adjacent thereto. switch TS is unlocked or the switch machine SM A further object of the invention is to provide is in operation. means for indicating the position of a track The track switch TS is provided with the usual switch over a single line wire, which in the specific `detector track section having a track battery and 10.5 embodiment of the present invention, is the same a track relay T. f Y c "i line wire which is employed for the control of that Associated with the switch machine SM, either track switch. included therein oradjacent thereto, is a remote-..- Further objects, purposes and characteristic controller RC which in accordance with the pres- 5 features of the present invention will be in part ent invention comprises the two-position me- 110 ooi cti

chanical stick circuit controllers CA and CB, and a condenser 8. Circuit controller CA includes normal and reverse windings 10 and 11 which operate its contacts 12 and 13 to normal or reverse extreme positions respectively. This mechanical stick circuit controller CA is controlled in part by a switch machine control lever SML located in the tower and in part by its associated mechanical stick circuit controller CB. The circuit controller CB has normal and reverse coils 15 and 16 which operate the contacts 17, 18 and 19: to normal or reverse extreme positions respectively. This mechanical stick controller CB is operated in accordance with the generation of dynamic current at the end of each operating cycle as produced by the motor of the switch machine SM.

In the tower a switch machine control lever SML is provided, which is preferably of the snap action type, and which is operable to either lof two extreme positions thereby operatingits associated contacts 20, 21 and 22 to corresponding extreme positions. Associated with the control lever SML are two indicating lamps NI and RI which respectively indicate the normal and reverse position of the track switch TS and its correspondence with the switch machine. SM and control lever SML.

Associated with the indicating lamps NI and RI is a transformer 25 and a condenser 26. These devices are provided to insulate the alternating current indication circuits from the direct current control circuits.

A suitable source of direct current is provided in the tower which supplies buses 26 and 27 with energy. These buses comprise a direct current transmission line extending from the tower to the several outlying track switches. Similarly, a suitable alternating current source is provided in the tower which supplies buses 28 and 29 with energy. These buses comprise an alternating current transmission line which also extends from the tower to the several outlying track switches.

`It is believed, that the usefulness and the various interrelated functions of the devices and circuits of this specic embodiment of the present invention will be more readily understood by further description being given from the standpoint of operation.

Operation With all of the devices of the system in the normal conditions illustrated, an indication circuit is completed from the bus 29 of the alternating current transmission line through wire 35, contacts 7-36, wire 37, contact 18 of circuit controller CB in a left hand or normal position, condenser 8, wires 38 and 39, front contact 40 of track relay T, wires 4l and 42, condenser 26, primary winding of transformer 25, contact 21 of lever SML in a normal position, wire 43, to the bus 28 of the alternating current transmission line. The current iiow in this circuit energizes the primary winding of transformer 25 thereby causing an induced current to ow in its secondary winding from its lower terminal through contact 20 of lever SML in a normal position, wire 44, normal indicating lamp NI, wires and 46, to the upper terminal oi the secondary of transformer 25'. This illuminates the indicator NI telling the operator that the track switch TS is in a normal position and locked in correspondence with lever SML.

vThe remaining devices, except the. track relay T, which is of course normally energized, are normally deenergized. The reverse winding 11 of circuit controller CA, which is the next operating winding, is shunted through a circuit from the bus 26, through wire 47, contact 22 of lever SML in a normal position, wires 48 and 41, front contact 40 of track relay T, wires 39 and 49, reverse winding 11, wire 50, contact 19 of circuit controller CB in a normal position, wire 51, to the bus 26. This provides what is commonly termed shunt cross protection for the next operating winding. A similar shunt circuit is completed for the normal winding 10 when the system is in reverse condition.

Let us assume that the operator moves the switch machine control lever SML to its right hand reverse extreme position, in order to operate the track switch to its reverse position. As soon as the contacts of the lever SML operate to reverse positions, the energizing circuit for the primary of transformer 25, is opened at normal contact 21 and the circuit for the indicator NI is opened at normal contact 20,

With contact 22 of lever SML in the left hand position, an energizing circuit is completed for the wind-ing 11 of the circuit controller CA from the bus 26 of thel direct current transmission line, through wire 51, contact 19 of circuit controller CB in a left hand normal position, wire 50, winding-1,1 of circuit controller CA, wires 49 and 39, front contact 40 of track relay T, lwires 41 and 48, contact 22 of lever SML in its reverse position, wire 52, to the cus 27 of the direct current transmission line. The completion of this circuit energizes the coil 11, causing the contacts' 12 and 13 of circuit controller CA to be operated to right hand or reverse extreme positions.

This closes the reverse operating circuit of the switch machine SM from the bus 26 of the direct current transmission line, through fuse 53, wires 54 and 5.5 contact 12 of circuit controller CA in a reverse position, wire 56, contacts 5-57, wires 58 and 59, windings of armature A, wire 60, contacts 6-61, wires 62 and 63, iield winding F, wires 64 and 65, to the .bus 27 of the direct current transmission line. The flow of current in this circuit causes the switch machine SM to unlock the track switch TS and operate it to a reverse extreme locked position.

During the operation o1 the track switch TS by the switch machine SM, the movable co-ntact 7 is in an intermediate position so that no indication circuit can be energized.

At the completion of the reverse operation of thev switch, Ithe movable contacts 5, 6 and 7 are operated to reverse positions which closes the reverse snubbing circuit for the motor, after which the reverse energizing circuit is closed for the transformer 25.

The reverse snubbing circuit is closed from the upper termi-nal of the armature A, through wires 60 and 66, contacts 5-67, wire 68, contact 13 of circuit controller CA in its reverse position wire 69,v Winding 16 of circuit controller CB, wires .70 and 64, eld winding F, wires 63 and 71, contacts 6--72, wire 59, to the lower terminal of armature A.

The ow of current in this reverse snubbing circuit .of course brings the motor armature A immediately to rest relieving the switch machine mechanism from coming up against a sudden stop. Also, the now of dynamic current includes A With the track switch TS -now' in its reverse locked position as operated by the switch machine SM, and with the circuit controller CB in its reverse position, the reverse indicating circuit is now closed from bus 28, through wire 73, contacts 7-74, wire 75, contact 18 of circuit controller CB in its reverse position condenser 8, wires 38 and 39, front contact 40 of track relay T, wires 41 and 42, condenser 26, primary winding of transformer 25, contact 21 of switch. machine lever SML in its reverse position, wire 76, to bus 29. This causes the indicator RI to be energized from the lower terminal of the secondary of transformer 25, through contact 20 of switch machine lever SML in its reverse position, wire 77, indicator RI, wires 78 and 46, to the upper terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 25. The energization of the indicator RI informs the operator that the track switch TS is in its reverse locked position, in correspondence with the remote controller RC and switch machine lever SML.

With the system in its reverse condition, a shunt cross protection circuit is completed for A the normal winding 10 of circuit controller CA from bus 27, through wire 52, contact 22 of switch machine lever SML in its reverse position, wires 48 and 41, front contact 40 of track relay T, wire 39 and 79, normal winding 10 of circuit controller CA, wire 80, contact 17 of circuit controller CB in its reverse position, wire 81, to bus 27.

Thus, the operation and indication of the track switch TS from its normal eXtreme locked position to its reverse locked position has been described. It is believed that the operation of the track switch TS from the reverse position to the normal position will be understood by analogy to the description of the operation of the system from its normal condition to its reverse condition and will not be described in detail, with the exception of the normal operating and snubbing circuits.

Assuming the system to be in reverse condition, as above explained, and that the lever SML is returned to its normal position, a normal oprating circuit for the circuit controller CA is closed from bus 26, through wire 47, contact 22 of switch machine lever SML in its normal position, wires 48 and 41, front contact 40 of track relay T, wires 39 and 79, normal winding 10 of circuit controller CA, wire 80, contact 17 of circuit controller CB in its reverse position, wire 81, to bus 27. This operates the contacts of circuit controller CA to normal positions.

The normal operating circuit of the switch machine is then closed from bus 26, through fuse 53, wires 54 and 82, contact 13 of circuit controller CA in its normal position, wire 68, contacts 5-67, wires 66 and 60, windings of armature A, wire 59, contacts 6-72, wires 71 and 63, iield winding F, wires 64 and 65, to the bus 27,

After the operation of the yswitch machine SM to its normal position, the normal/snubbing circuit is closed from the upper terminal of the armature A, through wire 60, contacts 6-61, wires 62 and 63, field winding F, wires 64 and 83, normal winding 15 of circuit controller CB, wire 84, contact 12 of circuit controller CA in its normal position, wire 56, contacts 5-57, wires 58 and 59, to the lower terminal of the armature A.

It will be noted from the above description that the circuit controller CA cannot be governed by vmovement of the switch machine lever SML unless the circuit controller CB is in correspondence therewith. Thus, lirrespective lof* the movement of the lever SML, the switch machine SM cannot be reversed or interrupted in its operation until the end of an operation at which time the dynamic current operates the circuit controller CB into correspondence with the circuit controller CA. Also, it is obvious that, when the track relay T is deenergized opening front contact 40, the circuit controller CA cannot be controlled. In other words, the operator cannot control-.the switch machine to reverse it in mid-stroke, nor can the occupancy of the detector track section interrupt the operation of the switchmachine.

It is also noted that the deenergization of the track relay T opens either the normal or the reverse indicating circuit depending upon which position the track switch is in at the time the detector circuit is occupied. This deenergizes the 'corresponding indicator lamp in the tower associated with the lever SML, informing the operator that the associated track section is occupied.

Although condensers 8 and 26 have been ernployed for insulating the indication circuits from the control circuits for the purpose of superimposing the alternating current as above described, it is to be understood that other means such as rectiflers properly inserted in the circuits might be employed for this purpose. Also,- it is noted in this connection, that the impedance of coils 15 and 16 to alternating current is relatively high as compared to their direct current resistance which prevents the flow of alternating current erroneously or falsely through the primary winding of the transformer when the track relay T is deenergized.

In the specic embodiment of the invention, overload protection has been provided for the switch machine SM in the form of a fuse, but it is to be understood that various other means such as overload relays of the slow acting type, of the thermal type, or the like, might be employed in place thereof.

Having described a control and indication system for railroad track switches as one speciiic embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that this form is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms which it may assume; and, it is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specic form shown to meet the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except as limited by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I now claim:-

1. In a railroad traffic controlling system; a track switch; a switch machine for operating said track switch; a remote controller for governing said switch machine; a control lever; a source of electrical energy; two bus wires extending from said source to said track switch for supplying energy to said switch machine when governed by said remote controller; a control wire extending from said control lever to said remote controller; and means causing current to -iiow through said remote controller for operation thereof only upon operation of said control lever to a new position out of correspondence with said track switch, said means including said two bus wires, said control wire and said source of electrical energy.

2. In a railroad trafiic controlling system; a track switch; a switch machine for operating said track switch; a remote controller for governing said switch machine, said remote controller f BOI comprising one two-position circuit controller having operating windings, and anotherV twoposition circuit controller having operating windings; operating circuits for said switch machine governed by said one circuit controller; operating circuits for the operating windings of said another two-position circuit controller governed by said switch machine at the end of each operation; a control lever; a single control wire; a direct current transmission line; and means including said control lever, said control wire, said transmission line and said another two-position circuit controller foroperating said one twoposition circuit controller to either oi its two positions depending upon the position of said control lever.

3. In combination; a railroadtrack switch; a switch machine for operating said track switch having normal and reverse operating circuits; a two-position circuit controller for governing the normal and reverse operating circuits of said switch machine, said two-position circuit controller having normal and reverse operating coils; a control lever located in a central tower; two buses supplied with energy extending from said tower to said track switch; means connecting the normal operating coil of said two-position circuit controller to one of said two buses when said switch machine is in a reverse position; means connecting said reverse operating coil oi said twoposition circuit controller to the other of said two buses when said switch machine is in a normal position; a control lever; a line wire connecting said control lever to said normal and reverse operating coils of said two-position circuit concurrent buses extending from said control lever to said remote controller, a control wire extending from said control lever to said remote controller; point detector contacts operated by said switch machine and sai-d track switch jointl' an alternating current source; an indicator associi ated with said control lever; means supplying alternating current from said alternating current source through said point detector contacts to said indicator, said means including said remote controller and said control line; and means preventing direct current from iiowing through said indicating circuits.

5. In combination, a control lever in a control oflice, a switch machine at a held station, a source of electrical energy common to said control office and said held station through permanent bus wires, a single control wire extending from said control office to said switch machine, and means including said control lever, said source of electrical energy and said control wire for causing operation of said switch machine.

6. In combination, a switch machine, a control lever, a remote controller for governing said switch machine, means governed in part by said control lever and in part by said switch machine for actuating said remote controller, means eiective to operate said switch machine when said remote controller is actuated for a iirst operation by said control lever, and means effective to prevent actuation of said remote controller by said control lever for a second operation until said switch maohinehas responded to said i'lrst operation of said remote controller.

'7. In combination, a track switch, a switch machine for operating said track switch, a control lever, a remote controller for governing said switch machine, means governed in part by said control lever and in part by said switch machine for actuating said remote controller, means effective to operate said switchy machine when said remote controller is actuated for a rst operation by said control lever', means effective to prevent actuation of said remote controller by said control lever for a second `operation until said switch machine has responded to said Iirst operation of said remote controller, a detector track section associated with said track switch, and means preventing actuation of said remote controller by said control lever when said detector track section is occupied by a train.

8. In combination, `a control lever in a control cnice, a switch machine at a iield station, a source of electrical energy common to said control oflice and said field station: through permanent bus wires, an indicator at said office, another and distinctive source of energycommon to said control office and said iield station through other permanent bus wires, a single line wire extending from said control onice to said'switch machine, and means including said control lever, said sources of electrical energy and said line wire for operating said switch machine and said indicator over said line wire.

9. In combination, a control lever and an indicator in a control oiiice, a switch machine at a field station, two distinctive sources of electrical energy common to said office and said field station through permanent bus wires, and a single line wire connecting said oflice and rleld station to permit said indicator to be controlled in accordance with the position of said switch machine from one of sai-d sources and to permit said switch machine to be controlled in accordance with the position of said lever from the other of said sources thereover.

l0. In combination, a control lever and an indicator in a control ofiice, a switch machine at a iield station, two distinctive sources ci electrical energy common to said oiiice and said rleld station through the medium of permanent bus wires, and a single line wire connecting said oiiice and eld station to permit said indicator to he controlled in accordance with the position of said switch machine from one of said sources and to permit said switch machine to be controlled .in accordance with the terminal or the other of said sources connected by said lever to the oice end of said line wire.

ll. In combination, a central oiiice, a track switch at a distant point, an indicator and a lever in said central oflice, an electrically operated switch machine for operating said track switch, a second indicator at said track switch operated by dynamic current Yfrom said switch machine to assume one position when said switch machine assumes one extreme position and to assume another position when said switch machine assumes the other extreme position, circuits for controlling said switch machine by said lever, and a circuit for operating said indicator effective only if said lever, said switch machine and said second indicator assume corresponding positions.

12. In combination, a central ofce, a track switch at a distant point, an indicator and a lever in said central office, an electrically operated switch machine for operating said track switch, a second indicator at said track switch operated by dynamic current from said switch machine to assume one position when said switch machine assumes one extreme position and to assume another position when said switch machine assumes the other extreme position, two distinctive sources of electrical energy common to said office and distant point through the medium of bus wires, and a single line wire for in combination with said bus wires controlling said switch machine by said lever and for actuating the indicator in said oiiice when said lever, said switch machine and said second indicator assume corresponding positions.

13. In combination, a central office, a track switch at a distant point, an indicator and a lever in said central ofiice, an electrically operated switch machine for operating said track switch, a second indicator at said track switch operated by dynamic current from said switch machine to assume one position when said switch machine assumes one extreme position and to assume another position when said switch machine assumes the other extreme position, circuits for controlling said switch machine by said lever, and circuits for operating said indicator effective only if said switch machine and said second indicator assume corresponding positions.

14. In combination, a central oihce, a track switch at a distant point, an indicator and a lever in said central ofce, an electrically operated switch machine for operating said track switch, a second indicator at said track switch operated by dynamic current from said switch machine to assume one position when said switch machine assumes one extreme position and to assume another position when said switch machine assumes the other extreme position, two distinctive sources of electrical energy permanently common to said oiiice and distant point through the medium of bus wires, and a single line wire for in combination with said bus wires controlling said switch machine by said lever and for actuating the indicator in said oiiice when said switch machine and said second indicator assume corresponding positions.

15. In combination, a central oice and a distant way station, an indicator at said office, a traiic controlling device at said way station having contacts associated therewith to manifest its conditions, a source of current permanently common to said central omce and to said way station through the medium of bus wires, and a single line wire connecting said office and way station for, in combination with said bus wires, actuating said indicator to indicate the condition of said traiiic controlling device as manifested by said contacts.

16. In combination, a central oice and a distant way station, two indicators at said oiiice, a traffic controlling device at said way station having contacts associated therewith to manifest its condition, a source of current permanently common to said central oilice and to said way station through the medium of bus wires, and a single line wire connecting said o-ice and way station for, in combination with said bus wires, actuating a particular one of said indicators to indicate the condition of said traffic controlling device as manifested by said contacts.

lll@

JOHN J. PALERMO. 

